This is deemed okay as long as using an inhaler won’t become a routine, especially for patients with asthma.
Inhalers for asthma can be broadly broken down into two categories:
- Inhalers For Long-Term Control (Preventive)
These inhalers do not have a preventative purpose in their usage – patients are expected to use them regularly to control symptoms and prevent any further attacks. Typically, these are corticosteroid inhalers that gradually lessen inflammation in the airways and target triggers of asthma. Examples include:
Inhaled corticosteroids such as fluticasone, budenoside, and beclomethasone;
Combination bronchodilator-budeonide inhalers such as Advair and Symbicort have a long acting bronchodilator and an inhaled corticosteroid.
They protect against moderate to severe flare-ups of asthma symptoms and are even recommended for patients that experience no symptoms at all. If used properly, they should reduce the number of asthma flare-ups and can even lower the intensity of any attacks.
- Rescue (Quick-relief) Inhalers
Those that quickly collapse and open pass albuterol – those that quickly relieve symptoms of asthma. They are preferred in acute attacks, however, should not be used daily unless recurrent asthma symptoms arise.
If you have to reach for your rescue inhaler more than two times a week, say Albuterol, it means that your asthma is not properly managed. In such cases, you are advised to work with your doctor in changing your long-term management plans.
This can aggravate symptoms such as triggers Usual lung irritants such as exercise induce asthma, which may lead into a full-blown attack.
To clarify:
To maintain asthma control, a long-term inhaler should be used on a daily basis for patients who have stable asthma.
Frequent use of the rescue inhaler (>2 times of use per week) indicates poorly controlled asthma and a patient receives treatment for asthma control along with other evaluations from a physician.
If you use your rescue inhaler everyday, then it is wise you reassess your management of asthma control with your healthcare professional. Are there any concerns you wish to raise, or would you prefer to receive more details on how to avoid over-reliance on the inhaler?
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